Rise in theft at cemetery

THE alleged theft of a katel - a ceremonial stretcher used during Muslim funeral rites - from Mowbray Cemetery, has not been an isolated incident but follows other break-ins and thefts.

- THEOLIN TEMBO.

Chairperson of the Muslim Cemetery Board and secretary of the Burial Administration of the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) Faizal Sayed, on Friday posted footage of the incident where a man entered through the roof to steal the katel.

Sayed said he posted the footage in hopes of tracing the person.

“The person cut a hole in the ceiling in the courtyard, came through the ceiling, and took many hours to actually slowly lift the thing up, and get it through the ceiling”

Sayed said the cemetery has experienced a slight increase in such incidents in the past month and a half, and that not all of them have involved a katel.

“The katel is an expensive metal piece, so it was clearly stolen for that purpose. In effect, it has upset the Muslim community a lot because it is something that people see their loved ones off for the last time.